His Wilmot farm is not for sale but the region wants to buy part of it anyway

A farmer from Wilmot Township is joining his neighbours in pushing back against plans by the region to buy 770 acres (about 312 hectares) of their land.

Adam van Bergeijk has owned and lived on Mountainoakdairy farm with his family in Wilmot Township since 1996. Now, he's in danger of being forced to sell about a third of his farm to the regional government, which has not provided much information about what it would towith theland after purchasing it.

"I don't know where we can get land and we need itto feed our cows," he said.

"Can we [grow] crop this year? When is it all goingto happen? We don't know."

WATCH | Dairy farmerspeaks on 'insecurity'of not knowing whether he'll lose a chunk ofland:

This Wilmot farmer could lose almost a third of his property to land expropriation

5 months ago

Duration 3:38

The region's controversial plan to buy farmland in Wilmot Township is raising concerns for farmers who will be directly impacted by potential land expropriation. Adam van Bergeijk of Mountainoak Farm says he could lose almost a third of his dairy farm, which is currently home to 600 cows. He is among six landowners and many more advocates who are calling for the lands not to be expropriated by the regional government. The Region of Waterloo has said the land is needed for future industrial use.

He saidmuch of the information is being kept behind closed doors and it'smaking farmers worriedabout the long-term health of their farms.

The Region of Waterloo has said the land is needed for future industrial use.

"It would be nice to know what is going on ... because if there is a big factory with all kind of possible pollution or stray voltage,we don't know what's coming."

Van Bergeijk isamong six landowners and severaladvocatescalling for the lands not to be expropriated by the regional government.

Chambers of commerce show region support

A group made up of presidents of local chambers of commerce, economic development, Communitech and Explore Waterloo Region have penned an open letter supporting the Region of Waterloo's plans to purchase farmland in Wilmot Township for an industrial project.

The group, dubbed BESTWR, wrote in its April 5 letter that "this is a critical time" in the region "that requires bold action."

Ian McLean, chair of BESTWR and also president and CEO of the Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce,said the land is needed because without it the region could miss out on opportunities to grow.

I just question the methodology and the process with all of this and the uprooting. People's livelihoods are at stake in this.- Jeff Donkersgoed, Waterloo Regional Labour Council

One opportunity McLean pointed to was Maple Leaf Foods, which in 2012 announced it would build its newest facility in Hamilton.

"We lost our Schneidersplants here in Waterloo region because we were not co-ordinated and we did not have one site that was suitable for what Maple Leaf Foods was looking for," he said.

CBC News reached out to Schneiders to confirm the reasons their new facility was not built in Waterloo region, but the company declined to comment on the specifics.

The letter was also signed by the CEOs of the Waterloo Region Economic Development Corporation, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce, Explore Waterloo Regionand Communitech.

Advocates push back

Landowners and farmers have started a petition on the website Change.org that now has more than 28,800 signatures. They have alsoappeared before regional and township councilsand have held local meetings with MPPs.

Jeff Donkersgoed, first vice-president of the Waterloo Regional Labour Council,also wrote an open letterto regional chair Karen Redman earlier this month saying the situation needs to be more open.

"I totally get that we want industry to come to Waterloo region, good sustainable jobs. It's something as a labour council we definitely want," he said.

"I just question the methodology and the process with all of this and the uprooting. People's livelihoods are at stake in this."